Trolley.



C. D. LARRABEE.

TROLLEY.

' APPLICATION FILED DEG. 20, 1009. 1,084863 Patented Jan. 20, 1914.

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mTED STATES PATENT OFFTCE.

CLINTON D. LARRABEE, OF SYRAGUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 SILAS HUBBELL, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK.

TROLLEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 20, 1 91.4.

Application filed December 20, 1909. Serial No. 533,996.

T0 all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, CLINTON D. LAnnAnnn, of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Trolley, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has for its object the production of a particularly simple and efficient trolley, and it consists in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing, in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my trolley. Figs. 2 and 3 are sectional views, taken, respectively, on lines A-A and BHB, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view illustratingV the action of the spring of the trolley harp during the turning of the harp.

This trolley comprises, generally, a support 1, a base 2 carried by the support, a harp 3 pivoted to the base, a wheel 4l car ried by the harp, and means for yieldingly preventing turning of the harp on its pivot. The support 1 is usually the ordinary trolley pole but any other suitable means for performing the function of the pole may be employed. The base Q is here shown as provided with a central upwardly extending tubular post 5, an upwardly facing bearing surface 6 concentric with the-post 5, a recess or slot 7 extending erosswise of the axis of the post and opening through diametrically opposite faces, as front and rear faces, of the base, and an arc-shaped groove 8 in front of one end of the recess as the front end, this groove 8 communicating with the recess 7 and being depressed below the bearing surface 6. The upwardly extending tubular post 5 is preferably integral with the major part of the base; and the recess or slot 7 is closed on its top, bottom and opposite sides and open only at its ends. The base is also formed with a guard 9 for preventing cross wires supporting the trolley wire from catching the harp when the wheel is off the trolley wire.

The harp 3 is provided with a bearing surface l() for engaging the bearing surface 6 of the base, a central opening for receiving the tubular post 5 of the base, and with arms 11 on opposite sides of the post 5 for supporting the axle 12 upon which the trolley wheel 4 is mounted. The arms 11 are provided with inwardly projecting hubs 13 through which are passed keys 14 for holding the axle in position, and the outer faces of the arms are flat, so that there are no projections to catch on crosswires when the wheel 4l leaves the trolley wire. The arms 1l also carry spring brushes '15 which conduct the current from the wheel 'l to the harp. Usually one of` the bearing faces G, or 10 is provided on a plate or washer 16 of brass which is fixed to the base 2 or harp 3, the base and harp being usually steel. Usually the brass washer is fixed to and forms part of the base. A brass sleeve or bushing 17 surrounds the tubular post The harp is secured to the base by a bolt 1S extending downwardly through the post 5, and a nut 19 turning on the lower end of the bolt, the nut 19 being located in a recess 20 in the under side of the base 2. Suitable brass or copper washers 21 are interposed between the head of the bolt and the upper end of the post 5 and sleeve 1G and between the nut 19 and the opposing surface of the base. The nut 19 is held from movement by a key 2Q extending transversely through the bolt 18 and. nut 19, and through the walls of the recess 20. The bushing 1T, washers 21 and bolt 18 serve to conduct the current to the base without any appreciable loss in voltage, and the location of the nut 19 in the recess QO avoids the formation of any projections for the crosswires to catch on when the wheel il leaves the trolley wire. The harp is also provided with an integral depending lug 23 extending partly into the groove 8, the lug carrying a pin 211 which extends farther into groove 8 and terminates close to the bottom of the groove, the pin being of less diameter or thickness than the lug. The purpose of extending the lug into the groove is, that the lug will engage opposite end walls of the groove S during turning of the harp in opposite directions and limit the turi'iing movement of the harp and thus prevent the pin 24tt'rom bearing at its end against the spring arms, to be described, when said arms have been pressed by said pin to the end of the groove. flf the lug did not limit tho turning or pivotal movement of the harp, the pin 2l, owing to its length, would be liable to bend or break. Said groove is also provided with openings 25 in its bottom at the opposite ends thereof for loo permitting water and ice to pass out of the groove during turning of the harp.

The means for yieldingly preventing turning of the harp on its pivot comprises a spring carried by the base and located in the recess 7, said spring being detachable from the base without disturbing any of the other parts of the t-rolley. As here shown, the spring comprises arms 26 extending on opposite sides of the bolt 18, each arm being fixed at one end and engaging at its free end the pin 24 and tending to restrain movement of the harp in one direction. Usually, the arms 26 are branches of a single piece of wire U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U-shaped piece extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp, and the front ends of said branches extending on opposite sides of the pin 24. The portions of the U-shaped piece adjoining the bail portion, or intermediate portion of the U- shaped piece, are bent at 27 at an angle to the major part of the arms 26, as seen in Fig. 3, forming a lug 28 by means of which the arms are secured to the base, and said lug 28 is located within a U-shaped socket 29 of substantially the same form as the lug 28. The socket 29 is located at the rear of the base and faces rearwardly and opens at its top through the bottom of the recess or slot 7. The pin 24 thus swings in an arc of shorter radius than the arc described by the end of the spring arms, sothat owing to the friction between the pin 24 and the arm 26, said arm is pressed rearwardly, as well as laterally and owing to the angle at 27 in each arm 26, said arm can yield rearwardly as seen in Fig. 4, as well as laterally. Owing to the rearward yielding of the arms or branches 26 due to the angle in said branches at 27 and to the formation of arms of the lugs 2S which are fixed at their ends to the base, the tension of the branches 26 on the pin 24 remains practically uniform whether the harp is turned but slightly on it-s pivot or is turned to its full extent, and the branch acting on the pin 24 occupies its extreme position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2. Consequently, the liability of breaking of the spring is reduced to a minimum and the life of the spring is extended. Owing to the arrangement of the socket 29, the spring 26 can be easily removed and replaced, and for facilitating the insertion of the spring in the recess the free ends of the arms 26 are bent to diverge from each other in order to engage the bolt 1S when the spring is being placed in position and be deflected to opposite sides of said bolt. The spring is securely held in position by ay screw 30, the head of which engages the bail portion or lug 28, the screw 8O being held in position by a key 3l passing transversely through the socket 29 and said screw 30. Usually the bottom wall of the recess 7 is rounded gradually at 32 in order to permit easy bending at27 of the spring, and the lug 28 of the spring snugly fits the socket 29 and is held tightly therein by the screw 30. The pin 24 against which both spring arms 26 press when the harp is in its normal position, the axis of the harp, and the point of securement of the spring arms 26 to the base are located in a straight line.

In operation when the harp turns or pivots as when a car equipped with my trolley is turning a curve, the spring 26, owing to the relative arrangement and construction thereof, can most efficiently resist the wear and tear incident to its use, and is not liable to breakage, owing to the fact that the spring arms are comparatively long and the strain is not confined at any one point, and further that the arms can yield slightly rearwardly, as seen in Fig. 4. Furthermore, if the spring should break, it can be quickly and easily replaced by withdrawing the key 3l and screw 30, removing the spring and replacing it with a new one.

vWhat I claim, is:

l. 1n a trolley, the combination of a pole,

a base carried by the pole and formed with a recess extending horizontally through diametrically opposite surfaces of the base, the sides, top and bottom of the recess being closed and the rec-ess being open only at its ends, the base being also formed with an upwardly facing bearing face above the recess, a trolley harp pivoted to the base and having a bearing surface for engaging the firstmentioned bearing surface, and a spring for restraining the trolley harp from turning on its pivot, the spring located in the recess including arms extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and acting at their free ends in opposite directions on the harp, and being secured at their opposite ends to the base, and removable from the recess by an endwise movement and a single fastening member for holding the spring in position, said member being located at one of the open ends of the recess, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole and formed with a recess ext-ending horizontally through diametrically opposite surfaces of the base, the sides, top and bottom of the recess being closed and the recess being open only at its ends, the base being also formed with an upwardly facing bearing face above the recess, a trolley harp pivoted to the base and having a bearing surface for engaging the first-mentioned bearing surface, and aspring located in the recess for restraining the trolley harp from turning on its pivot, the spring including arms extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and acting at their free ends in opposite directions on the harp, and being secured at their opposite ends to the base, the spring being removable from the recess by an endwise 1110 vement, the point of securement of the sp1-ing to the base and the point of engagement of the spring arms with the trolley harp being located on diametrically opposite sides of the axis of the harp, when the spring is at rest, and means for securing' the spring in position, said means being exposed at 011e of the open ends of the recess, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole, a trolley harp pi'voted to the base, a spring arm for yieldingly holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring arm being engaged at one end with the harp and its opposite end portion being bent out of the plane of movement of said arm at an angle to the major part of said arm and secured near its extreme end to the base, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4l. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base supported by the pole, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, a spring for yieldingly holdingtheharp from pivotal movement, the spring including arms extending` on opposite sides of the pivot of th-e harp, and each being engaged at one end with the harp and the opposite end portion being bent out of the plane of movement of said arm at an angle to the major part of said arm and secured near its extreme end to the base, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, a. spring for normally holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring comprising a piece of metal bent to form spring arms extending in the same direction, and engaged at their free ends with the harp, and a bail portion connecting the arms, the opposite sides of the bail portion extending parallel to each other, and in a plane at an angle approximating a right angle to the plane of said arms, respectively, and means extending thro-ugh the bail portion between the sides thereof and at a right angle to the plane of such bail portion for clamping the spring to the base, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

G. In a trolley, the combination of a pole,

a base carried by the pole, a trolley harp' pivoted to the base, a spring for normallyr holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring comprising a piece of Wire bent U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U-shaped piece extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp, the bail portion of the U-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of the opposite branches, and means extending through said bail portion and into the base for clamping the spring in position, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole, the base being formed with a U-shaped socket, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, and a spring for yieldingly holding the harp from pivot'al movement, the spring comprising a piece of metal bent U-shape in general outline, the bail portion of the U-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of the branches of said U-shaped piece and being arranged in the socket and bearing in lateral directions against the sides of the socket and being free to move backwardly and forwardly therein, the opposite branches of the U-shaped piece being engaged at their free ends with the harp, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole, the base being formed with a U-shaped socket, a trolley harp pivo-ted to the base, a spring for yieldingly holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring comprising a piece of metal bent U-shape in general outline, the bail portion of the U-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of the branches of said U-shaped piece and being arranged in the socket and bearing in lateral directions against the sides of the socket, and being free to move backwardly and forwardly therein, the opposite branches of the U-shaped piece being engaged at their free ends with the harp, and a fastening member extending between the opposite sides of the bail and near the bend of such bail and having a head for clamping the bail in the socket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole and formed with a U-shaped socket, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, a spring for yieldingly holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring comprising a piece of wire bent U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U- shaped piece extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp, and the bail portion of the U-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of the opposite branches and being fitted in said socket, and means for securing said bail portion in the socket, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

l0. In a trolley, the combination of a. pole, a base carried by the pole and fornied with a U-shaped socket, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, a spring for yieldingly holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring comprising a piece of wire bent U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U- shaped piece extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp and the bail portion of the U-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of the opposite branches and fitted in said socket, and means for securing the bail portion in the socket, said means comprising a member extending through said bail portion, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. ln a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole and formed with a til-shaped socket, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, a spring for yieldingly holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring comprising a piece of wire bent U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U- shaped piece extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp and the bail por ion of the til-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of the opposite branches and fitted in said socket, and means for securing said bail portion in the socket, said means comprising a member extending through said bail portion, and a key extending transversely through the socket and through said member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. ln a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole and fo 1med with a recess opening through diametrically opposite surfaces of the base, a trolley harp pivoted to the base above the recess, a spring for yieldingly holding the trolley harp from turning on its pivot, said' spring comprising a wire bent U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U-shaped piece extending' in the recess on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp, and means engaging the bail portion of the "tl-shaped spring for securing the spring to the base, and a single fastening member for holding the spring in position, said member being located at one of the open ends of the recess, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

18. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the po-le and formed with a recess opening through diametrically 'opposite surfaces thereof, and with an outwardly facing socket at one end of the recess the socket being arranged at an angle to the recess and communicating therewith, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, means for yieldingly holding the harp from turning on its pivot, said means comprising a spring bent U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the i i-shaped piece being located in the recess and extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp, and the bail portion of the Pot-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of said opposite branches, and said bail portion being located in the socket and fitted to the walls of the same, and means for clamping said bail portion in the socket, substantially as and for the purpose described.

111. ln a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole and formed with a recess opening through diametrically opposite surfaces thereof, and wit-h an o utwardly facing socket at one end of the recess the socket being arranged at an angle to the recess and communicating therewith, a trolley harp pivoted to the base, a spring for yieldingly holding the harp from turning on its pivot, said spring comprising a piece of wire bent U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the ltl-shaped piece being located in the recess and extending on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp, the bail port-ion of the U-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement of said opposite branches, and said bail portion being located in the socket and fitting the walls of the same, and means for clamping said bail portion in the socket, said means including a member extending through said bail portion, and a key extending transversely through the walls of the socket and through said member, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. ln a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried bv the pole and formed with an upwardly facing arc-shaped groove, a harp pivoted to the base on an upright pivot arranged concentric with the groove, the harp being formed with a lug depending into the groove, and movable into engagement with opposite end walls of the groove for limiting the turning movement of the harp, and a pin depending from the lug into the groove and terminating short of the bottom of the groove, and spring arms carried by the base and extending into the groove and engaging opposite sides of the pin, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

16. ln a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole and formed with an upwardly facing arc-shaped groove having openings in its bot-tom, a harp pivoted to the base on an upright pivot arranged concentric with the groove, the harp being formed with a pin depending into the groove, and spring means carried by the base and engaging the pin, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

17. ln a trolley, the combination of a pole,`a base carried by the pole and formed with a recess extending through diametrically opposite surfaces thereof, the top, bottom and sides of the recess being closed and vthe recess being open only at its ends, an

upwardly facing arc-shaped groove located at one end of the recess and the base being formed with a bearing face above the plane of the recess, a harp pivoted to the base on an upright pivot arranged concentric with the are-shaped groove, the harp being formed with a bearing face for engaging the first-mentioned bearing face and with a pin depending into the groove, and a spring for normally holding the harp from pivotal movement, the spring comprising a piece of Wire U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U-shaped piece extending in the recess on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the pin, and the bail portion of the U-shaped spring being fixed to the base, substantially as and for the purpose described.

18. In a trolley, the combination of a pole, a base carried by the pole and formed with a recess extending through front and rear surfaces thereof, the recess being closed at its top, bottom and opposite sides and opening only through opposite surfaces of the base, an upwardly facing arc-shaped groove at the front end of the groove and a ,rearwardly facing U-shaped socket at the rear end of the recess, the socket communieating at its upper end with a recess, the base being also formed with a bearing surface above the plane of the recess, a harp pivoted to the base and having a bearing surface for engaging the first-mentioned bearing surface, a lug depending into the groove and movable into engagement with opposite end Walls of the groove, a pin carried by the lug and depending into the groove and terminating close to the bottom of the groove, the pin being of less thickness than the lug, a wheel carried by the harp, the pivot of the harp being located in the same vertical plane as the axis of the wheel, a spring for yieldingly holding the harp from pivotal movement including a piece of wire U-shape in general outline, opposite branches of the U-shaped piece extending into the recess on opposite sides of the axis of the harp and being engaged at their free ends with the harp and the bail portion of the U-shaped piece being bent at an angle to the plane of movement ol the remaining parts of said opposite b `anches and being disposed in the U-shaped socket and fitted tothe walls thereof, and means for lixiug the bail portion in the socket, said means, the axis of the harp, and the point of engagement of the opposite branches of the spring and the pin when the harp is in its normal position, being located in a straight line, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two attesting witnesses, at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, this 11th day of November, 1909.

CLINTON D. LARRABEE.

Witnesses:

S. DAVIS, EMMA R. SEEMILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

